By DAVID NAGEL
Nepean League
WILDLY inaccurate kicking at goal hasn’t stopped Pearcedale from chalking up its second win of the season, the Panthers far too good for cellar-dwellers Tyabb at Bunguyan Reserve.
The 63-point victory should have entered triple-figures, the Panthers kicking an atrocious 4.9 to 0.2 in a dominant second-quarter display.
Pat Heijden booted four for the winners, Lachlan Marshall and Michael Williams chimed in with two each, while Ben Mitchell, Mitchell Smith and Kallum Searle were standout four-quarter performers.
Devon Meadows was brave in its 18-point loss, its fifth in succession, to Rye at Glover Reserve.
The home side, who had Steve McInnes, Pat Harmes, Troy Aust and Beau Miller missing from its regular line-up, never looked a real threat after half time… but never surrendered. Former skipper Jesse Dehey was superb in his first game back for the season, while Jack Hazendonk, Luke Duhig and Chris Doris slotted a couple each. Nathan Henley booted four for Demons.
It came, it saw, it conquered… that sums up Crib Point’s thrilling come-from-behind victory over Sorrento. The Sharks kicked out to a three-goal lead at quarter time, and still held a 15-point margin at the final break, before the Magpies responded, led brilliantly by Dean Warry (4 goals), Brad Davidson (3 goals) and Luke Herrington (3 goals), they kicked 6.4 to 1.2 in the final term for a season-defining victory.
A dominant third-quarter has given Dromana the edge over Frankston, the Tigers continuing their roller-coaster season with an 18-point victory over the Bombers at Dromana. The Tigers kicked 4.6 to 0.2 in the third term to turn a two-point deficit into a match-winning 26-point lead. Remarkably, the Tigers had nine goal-kickers in their 10-goal score-line, Sam Fowler the only multiple contributor with two. Beau Muston roosted four for the Bombers.
Hastings has rebounded strongly from its first loss of the season with a 32-point away victory over top-of-the-table Red Hill. An arm-wrestle would describe the first half before the Blues kicked 10 goals to five after the break. Joel Standfield and Paul Rogasch were best for the winners.
Rosebud held onto third-place on the ladder, capitalising on a fast start to down Somerville by 12 points at Somerville. Greg Bentley kicked three and was best on ground for the Buds, while Luke Rowe slotted three for the fifth-placed Eagles.
Ladder: Red Hill 20, Rye 20, Rosebud 20, Hastings 20, Somerville 16, Sorrento 12, Dromana 12, Crib Point 8, Frankston 8, Pearcedale 8, Devon Meadows 4, Tyabb 0.
